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State of Connecticut Labor Situation

Last Updated: January 26th, 2026

CT's jobless rate rises to 4.2% from 4.0% as jobs decline 500 (-0.03%) in December 2025

WETHERSFIELD, January 26, 2025 - Connecticut's unemployment rate rose two-tenths of a percentage point to 4.2% while the state's nonfarm industry employment declined 500 jobs (-0.03%) in December 2025, to a level of 1,713,900 (preliminary, seasonally adjusted data). The statewide jobless rate is now up a full percentage point since December 2024 (3.2%), while nonfarm payroll employment in the state is down 2,200 (-0.1%) positions from a year ago. The Connecticut November 2025 nonfarm job number held the 2,100 estimated gain (0.1%) on the normal monthly revision. Connecticut does remains below the U.S. unemployment rate (currently 4.4% for December 2025) for the 36th month in a row. December 2025 average temperatures were said to be below normal for many parts of the country. This labor statistics release presents current estimated data from two different monthly surveys (businesses and households) produced by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in association with the states. The January 2026 data release will be with newly benchmarked data (date still to be determined).

"The unemployment rate remains low, but Connecticut had an up and down year with job gains in six months and declines in the other. Job growth was particularly weak in the second half of the year," said Patrick Flaherty, Director of the Office of Research at the Connecticut Department of Labor. "Health Care & Social Assistance and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services added the most jobs in 2025. Retail Trade had the largest decline in the year as shopping patterns continued to shift toward online and delivery services. On average, wage increases slightly outpaced inflation."

Nonfarm Jobs Detail (business establishment survey)

Connecticut's Private Sector employment was lower by 1,000 positions (-0.1%) in December 2025 to 1,476,400 and is down by 5,400 jobs (-0.4%) from the December 2024 level. November's private sector job estimate revision disclosed a 1,600 job gain (0.1%), a little lower than the previously reported 1,900 increase. The full government supersector was higher by 500 (0.2%) in December to a level of 237,500 jobs and is now higher by 3,200 (1.4%) positions over the year and is also now fully recovered (102.6%) from the Covid decline. Connecticut's total government supersector consists of all civilian federal, state, local, and tribal government employment, including public education and Native American casino jobs located on federally recognized tribal reservations.

Five of the ten major industry supersectors gained jobs or were unchanged in December 2025, while five supersectors declined. The Information supersector was unchanged in December 2025.

The five industry supersectors that increased employment or held steady in December 2025 included:

Professional and Business Services +700 0.3% 224,100
Government +500 0.2% 237,500
Other Services +400 0.6% 66,300
Education & Health Services +200 0.1% 372,200
Information unchanged 0.0% 30,300

The five industry supersectors that declined jobs in December 2025 were:

Financial Activities -700 -0.6% 118,100
Manufacturing -500 -0.3% 152,800
Leisure & Hospitality -400 -0.3% 155,100
Trade, Transportation & Utilities -400 -0.1% 293,500
Construction & Mining -300 -0.5% 64,000

NONFARM EMPLOYMENT
Jobs - by Place of Work

CONNECTICUT AND THE UNITED STATES - Seasonally Adjusted
	December	November	October	September	December	Over Month		Over Year
	2025 P	2025 R	2025 R	2025	2024	Change	Rate	Change	Rate

CONNECTICUT	1,713,900	1,714,400	1,712,300	1,713,000	1,716,100	-500	0.0%	-2,200	-0.1%
Total Private	1,476,400	1,477,400	1,475,800	1,476,700	1,481,800	-1,000	-0.1%	-5,400	-0.4%
Goods Producing Industries
Mining	500	500	500	500	500	0	0.0%	0	0.0%
Construction	63,500	63,800	63,400	63,000	63,100	-300	-0.5%	400	0.6%
Manufacturing	152,800	153,300	153,400	153,300	155,400	-500	-0.3%	-2,600	-1.7%
Durable Goods	120,900	121,200	121,000	120,900	122,100	-300	-0.2%	-1,200	-1.0%
Nondurable Goods	31,900	32,100	32,400	32,400	33,300	-200	-0.6%	-1,400	-4.2%
Service Providing Industries
Trade, Transportation & Utilities	293,500	293,900	294,900	296,400	299,600	-400	-0.1%	-6,100	-2.0%
Wholesale	61,100	60,700	61,000	61,200	61,300	400	0.7%	-200	-0.3%
Retail	160,600	161,700	162,200	162,500	165,400	-1,100	-0.7%	-4,800	-2.9%
Transp, Warehousing & Utilities	71,800	71,500	71,700	72,700	72,900	300	0.4%	-1,100	-1.5%
Information	30,300	30,300	30,700	30,800	30,500	0	0.0%	-200	-0.7%
Financial Activities	118,100	118,800	118,900	118,500	118,600	-700	-0.6%	-500	-0.4%
Finance & Insurance	98,400	99,000	99,000	98,700	98,700	-600	-0.6%	-300	-0.3%
Real Estate, Rental & Leasing	19,700	19,800	19,900	19,800	19,900	-100	-0.5%	-200	-1.0%
Professional & Business Services	224,100	223,400	223,600	222,800	221,400	700	0.3%	2,700	1.2%
Prof, Scientific & Tech Services	103,800	104,000	104,000	104,200	100,900	-200	-0.2%	2,900	2.9%
Management of Companies	30,600	30,600	30,800	30,900	31,000	0	0.0%	-400	-1.3%
Admn & Support & Waste Mgt Serv	89,700	88,800	88,800	87,700	89,500	900	1.0%	200	0.2%
Educational & Health Services	372,200	372,000	370,500	371,100	371,700	200	0.1%	500	0.1%
Private Educational Services	72,300	72,400	72,800	73,500	75,100	-100	-0.1%	-2,800	-3.7%
Health Care & Social Assistance	299,900	299,600	297,700	297,600	296,600	300	0.1%	3,300	1.1%
Leisure and Hospitality	155,100	155,500	154,400	155,300	156,900	-400	-0.3%	-1,800	-1.1%
Arts, Entertainment & Recreation	29,500	29,300	28,400	28,800	28,300	200	0.7%	1,200	4.2%
Accommodation & Food Services	125,600	126,200	126,000	126,500	128,600	-600	-0.5%	-3,000	-2.3%
Other Services	66,300	65,900	65,500	65,000	64,100	400	0.6%	2,200	3.4%
Government**	237,500	237,000	236,500	236,300	234,300	500	0.2%	3,200	1.4%
UNITED STATES	159,526,000	159,476,000	159,420,000	159,593,000	158,942,000	50,000	0.0%	584,000	0.4%

Connecticut Labor Market Areas (LMAs): Two of the major Connecticut LMAs (the 5 Metros formed from the CT Councils of Governments or COG regions) that are seasonally adjusted by the BLS (about 93.6% coverage of the state) put forth nonfarm job gains in December 2025, while three Metros declined. The New Haven LMA (0.1%, 294,900) was up by 300 payrolls, and the Norwich-New London-Willimantic LMA (0.1%, 128,000) gained 100 positions last month. Conversely, the Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury LMA (-0.2%, 410,300) decreased employment by 600 and the state's largest metro, the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford LMA (-0.1%, 611,700), declined 500 positions. The Waterbury-Shelton LMA (-0.2%, 160,400) was also down by 300 jobs.

LABOR MARKET AREAS (LMAs, COG-based)

Labor Market Area employment estimates are made independently of Statewide estimates.

Seasonally Adjusted data (Metros)

December

November

October

September

December

Over Month

Over Year

Metropolitan Statistical Areas (5 CT MSAs)

2025 P

2025 R

2025

2024

Change

Rate

Change

Rate

Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury

410,300

410,900

410,400

411,100

410,500

-600

-0.1%

-200

0.0%

Hartford

611,700

612,200

610,900

611,100

610,600

-500

-0.1%

1,100

0.2%

New Haven

294,900

294,600

294,300

294,800

295,700

300

0.1%

-800

-0.3%

Norwich-New London-Willimantic

128,000

127,900

128,300

128,100

128,300

100

0.1%

-300

-0.2%

Waterbury - Shelton

160,400

160,700

160,900

161,000

162,100

-300

-0.2%

-1,700

-1.0%

Not Seasonally Adjusted data (Non-

Putnam - Northeastern

28,900

29,000

29,100

29,000

28,800

-100

-0.3%

100

0.3%

Torrington - Northwest Hills

38,100

38,200

38,700

38,500

38,100

-100

-0.3%

0.0%

* Less than 0.05% ** Includes Native American tribal government employment

P = Preliminary

R = Revised

Connecticut Labor Situation

December 2025

January 2009

Note: The new five major Connecticut LMAs are independently estimated from the statewide data by the BLS and cover over 93% of the nonfarm employment in the state. As a result, estimates will not exactly sum to the statewide total. Furthermore, monthly Seasonal Adjustment (SA) on these 5 new designated COG-based labor markets may undergo some shifting seasonality effects due to the concurrent seasonal process exaggerating some movements on the new geographies due to the lack of more precise historical seasonal factors (because the metros are new).

Hours and Earnings: The December 2025 Private Sector average work week, not seasonally adjusted, averaged 33.8 hours (AWH), unchanged from the December 2024 average (0.0%, 33.8). Average hourly earnings (AHE) at $39.97 in December 2025, not seasonally adjusted, were up by $1.16 (3.0%) from the December 2024 average estimate of $38.81. The resultant December 2025 private sector average weekly earnings (AWE = AWH x AHE) were estimated at $1,350.99, higher by $39.21 (3.0%) from a year ago ($1,311.78). The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, U.S. City Average, not seasonally adjusted - all items index) for December 2025 was up 2.7% from a year ago.

	AVG WEEKLY EARNINGS				AVG WEEKLY HOURS				AVG HOURLY EARNINGS
	Dec		CHG	Nov	Dec		CHG	Nov	Dec		CHG	Nov
(Not seasonally adjusted)	2025	2024	Y/Y	2025	2025	2024	Y/Y	2025	2025	2024	Y/Y	2025
PRODUCTION WORKER
MANUFACTURING	$1,167.89	$1,247.40	-$79.51	$1,179.89	40.3	39.4	0.9	40.7	$28.98	$31.66	-$2.68	$28.99
DURABLE GOODS	1,201.70	1,311.16	-109.46	1,216.00	39.4	38.7	0.7	40.0	30.50	33.88	-3.38	30.40
NON-DUR. GOODS	1,061.24	1,064.48	-3.23	1,076.21	43.0	41.5	1.5	43.1	24.68	25.65	-0.97	24.97
CONSTRUCTION	1,722.71	1,560.21	162.50	1,644.30	42.4	39.3	3.1	40.6	40.63	39.70	0.93	40.50

ALL EMPLOYEES
STATEWIDE
TOTAL PRIVATE	1,350.99	1,311.78	39.21	1,350.48	33.8	33.8	0.0	34.0	39.97	38.81	1.16	39.72
GOODS PRODUCING	1,600.75	1,563.39	37.36	1,580.32	39.1	39.4	-0.3	38.8	40.94	39.68	1.26	40.73
Construction	1,744.86	1,590.19	154.67	1,679.07	39.0	37.7	1.3	38.3	44.74	42.18	2.56	43.84
Manufacturing	1,496.40	1,517.33	-20.93	1,493.60	40.0	39.7	0.3	40.0	37.41	38.22	-0.81	37.34
SERVICE PROVIDING	1,308.43	1,267.06	41.37	1,311.73	32.9	32.8	0.1	33.2	39.77	38.63	1.14	39.51
Trade, Transp., Utilities	1,037.34	1,003.75	33.59	1,053.77	32.9	32.6	0.3	33.2	31.53	30.79	0.74	31.74
Financial Activities	2,356.07	2,171.67	184.40	2,397.31	37.8	38.2	-0.4	38.4	62.33	56.85	5.48	62.43
Prof. & Business Serv.	1,654.26	1,676.33	-22.07	1,662.55	34.9	36.3	-1.4	35.7	47.40	46.18	1.22	46.57
Education & Health Ser.	1,244.86	1,176.55	68.31	1,226.74	33.5	32.7	0.8	33.2	37.16	35.98	1.18	36.95
Leisure & Hospitality	672.03	625.30	46.73	651.39	26.2	26.0	0.2	25.9	25.65	24.05	1.60	25.15
Other Services	832.10	871.07	-38.97	846.45	26.5	28.3	-1.8	27.5	31.40	30.78	0.62	30.78

LABOR MARKET AREAS: TOTAL PRIVATE
Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury	1,432.03	1,355.08	76.95	1,440.38	33.6	33.7	-0.1	34.1	42.62	40.21	2.41	42.24
Hartford-W.Hartford-E.Hartford	1,317.69	1,338.04	-20.35	1,315.12	33.9	34.3	-0.4	34.0	38.87	39.01	-0.14	38.68
New Haven	1,257.41	1,221.43	35.98	1,262.52	33.3	33.2	0.1	33.4	37.76	36.79	0.97	37.80
Norwich-New London-Willimantic	1,161.92	1,141.81	20.11	1,139.93	32.0	32.3	-0.3	31.7	36.31	35.35	0.96	35.96
Waterbury-Shelton	1,191.60	1,142.61	48.99	1,189.42	33.5	33.4	0.1	33.8	35.57	34.21	1.36	35.19

Note: Current all-employee private sector hours and earnings estimates can be volatile due to fluctuating sample responses..

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis in December 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Over the last 12 months, the all items index increased 2.7 percent before seasonal adjustment.

The index for shelter rose 0.4 percent in December and was the largest factor in the all items monthly increase. The food index increased 0.7 percent over the month as did the food at home index and the food away from home index. The index for energy rose 0.3 percent in December.

The index for all items less food and energy rose 0.2 percent in December. Indexes that increased over the month include recreation, airline fares, medical care, apparel, personal care, and education. The indexes for communication, used cars and trucks, and household furnishings and operations were among the major indexes that decreased in December.

The all items index rose 2.7 percent for the 12 months ending December, the same increase as over the 12 months ending November. The all items less food and energy index rose 2.6 percent over the last 12 months. The energy index increased 2.3 percent for the 12 months ending December. The food index increased 3.1 percent over the last year.

Additional information about the impact of the shutdown on CPI data is available online at https://www.bls.gov/cpi/additional-resources/2025-federal-government-shutdown-impact-cpi.htm

State of Connecticut Unemployment Rate vs. United States Unemployment Rate

The preliminary December 2025 unemployment rate for Connecticut was estimated by the BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics program (LAUS) to be 4.2% (seasonally adjusted). CT's unemployment rate is up a full percentage point from a year ago (3.2%). The U.S. unemployment rate for December 2025 was 4.4%, down one-tenth of a percentage point (4.5%) from November 2025 but up three-tenths of a percentage point over-the-year from December 2024 (4.1%).

Month	2018			2019			2020			2021			2022			2023			2024			2025			2026
Month	CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.		CT	U.S.
Jan	4.6	4.7	0.1	4.2	4.0	-0.2	3.7	4.0	0.3	3.8	3.6	-0.2	7.2	6.4	-0.8	4.8	4.0	-0.8	3.4	3.5	0.1	3.3	3.7	0.4	3.3	4.0	0.7
Feb	4.5	4.6	0.1	4.2	4.1	-0.1	3.6	3.8	0.2	3.8	3.5	-0.3	7.2	6.2	-1.0	4.6	3.8	-0.8	3.3	3.6	0.3	3.2	3.9	0.7	3.4	4.1	0.7
Mar	4.5	4.4	-0.1	4.1	4.0	-0.1	3.5	3.8	0.3	3.9	4.4	0.5	7.2	6.1	-1.1	4.4	3.7	-0.7	3.2	3.5	0.3	3.2	3.9	0.7	3.6	4.2	0.6
Apr	4.5	4.4	-0.1	4.0	4.0	0.0	3.5	3.7	0.2	8.3	14.8	6.5	7.2	6.1	-1.1	4.3	3.7	-0.6	3.1	3.4	0.3	3.1	3.9	0.8	3.7	4.2	0.5
May	4.4	4.4	0.0	3.9	3.8	-0.1	3.5	3.6	0.1	11.9	13.2	1.3	7.0	5.8	-1.2	4.2	3.6	-0.6	3.1	3.6	0.5	3.1	4.0	0.9	3.8	4.2	0.4
Jun	4.4	4.3	-0.1	3.9	4.0	0.1	3.5	3.6	0.1	11.5	11.0	-0.5	7.0	5.9	-1.1	4.0	3.6	-0.4	3.0	3.6	0.6	3.1	4.1	1.0	3.8	4.1	0.3
Jul	4.4	4.3	-0.1	3.8	3.8	0.0	3.5	3.7	0.2	11.7	10.2	-1.5	6.6	5.4	-1.2	3.9	3.5	-0.4	3.1	3.5	0.4	3.1	4.2	1.1	3.8	4.2	0.4
Aug	4.4	4.4	0.0	3.8	3.8	0.0	3.6	3.6	0.0	9.6	8.4	-1.2	6.3	5.1	-1.2	3.7	3.6	-0.1	3.1	3.7	0.6	3.2	4.2	1.0	3.8	4.3	0.5
Sep	4.3	4.3	0.0	3.8	3.7	-0.1	3.6	3.5	-0.1	8.8	7.8	-1.0	5.9	4.7	-1.2	3.7	3.5	-0.2	3.2	3.8	0.6	3.2	4.1	0.9	3.8	4.4	0.6
Oct	4.3	4.2	-0.1	3.7	3.8	0.1	3.6	3.6	0.0	7.9	6.9	-1.0	5.6	4.5	-1.1	3.7	3.6	-0.1	3.3	3.9	0.6	3.2	4.1	0.9
Nov	4.3	4.2	-0.1	3.7	3.8	0.1	3.7	3.6	-0.1	7.5	6.7	-0.8	5.3	4.2	-1.1	3.6	3.6	0.0	3.3	3.7	0.4	3.2	4.2	1.0	4.0	4.5	0.5
Dec	4.3	4.1	-0.2	3.7	3.9	0.2	3.7	3.6	-0.1	7.4	6.7	-0.7	5.0	3.9	-1.1	3.5	3.5	0.0	3.3	3.8	0.5	3.2	4.1	0.9	4.2	4.4	0.2

The nonfarm employment estimate, derived from a survey of businesses, is a measure of jobs in the state; the unemployment rate and labor force estimates are based on a household survey and measure the work status of people who live in Connecticut. Because of the distinct differences both in concept and scope between the two estimates, nonfarm employment and unemployment do not necessarily move in the same economic direction month to month. Job and employment estimates are best understood in the context of their movement over several months rather than observed changes in a single month's value.

Labor Force / Residents Employed / Residents Unemployed

Average weekly initial unemployment claims (not seasonally adjusted) for first-time filers (AWIC) in Connecticut for December 2025 were 5,694. This is 2,809 (97.4%) claims higher than November 2025 (2,885) and higher by 199 claims (3.6%) than the December 2024 (5,495) level.

Month	2021			2022			2023			2024			2025			2026
Month	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.	Labor Force	Resident Emp.	Resident Unemp.
Jan	1,938.8	1,865.6	73.3	1,811.7	1,680.9	130.8	1,952.9	1,859.1	93.8	1,905.2	1,840.3	64.9	1,926.9	1,863.3	63.6	1,957.3	1,893.4	63.8
Feb	1,933.3	1,858.9	74.4	1,809.0	1,678.7	130.2	1,948.9	1,860.0	88.9	1,905.5	1,842.7	62.8	1,929.7	1,867.2	62.5	1,957.1	1,890.7	66.4
Mar	1,927.1	1,851.7	75.4	1,807.6	1,678.0	129.6	1,944.4	1,859.6	84.8	1,906.3	1,845.3	61.0	1,933.0	1,871.5	61.4	1,956.4	1,886.9	69.5
Apr	1,830.8	1,678.9	151.9	1,808.7	1,678.3	130.4	1,940.4	1,857.6	82.8	1,907.5	1,848.0	59.5	1,936.4	1,875.6	60.8	1,960.1	1,888.0	72.2
May	1,905.1	1,679.3	225.8	1,806.6	1,679.6	127.0	1,934.9	1,854.3	80.6	1,909.0	1,850.5	58.5	1,939.9	1,879.4	60.5	1,960.2	1,885.9	74.3
Jun	1,896.4	1,678.4	218.0	1,828.9	1,701.8	127.1	1,927.7	1,849.7	78.0	1,911.1	1,853.0	58.1	1,943.0	1,882.4	60.5	1,956.5	1,882.7	73.8
Jul	1,905.1	1,682.8	222.3	1,845.4	1,723.3	122.1	1,919.6	1,844.6	75.0	1,913.8	1,855.2	58.6	1,946.1	1,885.1	60.9	1,954.0	1,879.8	74.2
Aug	1,864.0	1,685.3	178.7	1,863.2	1,745.5	117.7	1,911.6	1,840.2	71.5	1,916.3	1,856.6	59.7	1,949.5	1,888.0	61.5	1,949.9	1,876.7	73.2
Sep	1,852.5	1,689.0	163.5	1,878.9	1,767.3	111.6	1,908.9	1,837.4	71.5	1,918.5	1,857.3	61.3	1,952.8	1,890.8	62.0	1,944.5	1,870.5	74.0
Oct	1,833.0	1,688.5	144.5	1,897.6	1,790.5	107.2	1,907.0	1,836.3	70.7	1,920.5	1,857.8	62.7	1,955.4	1,893.0	62.4
Nov	1,824.6	1,687.0	137.6	1,915.0	1,813.5	101.5	1,905.8	1,836.6	69.2	1,922.4	1,858.7	63.7	1,955.9	1,893.4	62.5	1,937.7	1,860.6	77.2
Dec	1,819.8	1,684.2	135.6	1,934.2	1,836.5	97.6	1,905.4	1,838.2	67.1	1,924.5	1,860.4	64.1	1,955.6	1,893.2	62.5	1,935.7	1,855.3	80.4


	The nonfarm employment estimate, derived from a survey of businesses, is a measure of jobs in the state; the unemployment rate and labor force estimates are based on a household survey and measure the work status of people who live in Connecticut. Because of the distinct differences both in concept and scope between the two estimates, nonfarm employment and unemployment do not necessarily move in the same economic direction month to month. Job and employment estimates are best understood in the context of their movement over several months rather than observed changes in a single month's value.

Preliminary January 2026 Labor Situation release date is pending BLS announcement (on new benchmark).